This paper discusses the spectrum of rheumatic diseases seen over a 24-month period from
January 1986 to December 1987. Rheumatoid arthritis was the commonest rheumatic disorder
seen, comprising of 47.1 % of all cases and ankylosing spondylitis was among the least frequent
(0.9%). Most of the rheumatic diseases reported in the West are also seen in Malaysia. However,
results of this study which is based on the hospital population may not be representative of the
spectrum of rheumatic diseases in the our population.